The problem is that politicians are rarely experts in technocratic matters (or even others matters - but they're good at getting elected). Not even Gordon Brown really knew, he is a classic case of the "useful idiot".

For advice on what to do they call in "experts". In the case of economics and finance they call on the Banks and credit houses as that is where the expertise resides. Unfortunately the advice given is extremely biased towards promoting the well-being of the institutions the experts represent which, given that these institutions are both predatory and parasitical on the country, means that the advice given is actually harmful to the interests of the country the politicians represent.

I do not believe the politicians understand this. So blaming them for the policies they promote kinda misses the point.

That's a key insight Helen. We need a generation of political actors that are extremely sceptical of this kind of 'expertise'.

Ireland was the most egregious case of this, and arguably the blanket Irish bank and bond guarantee in 2008 was the decisive initial act in ensuring the 'no bank left behind' policy at the expense of misery for the citizenry of the entire Eurozone.

I was not blaming the politicians, regardless of the contempt in which I hold their "leadership". Rather I was describing the sad situation and the path out of it. It is not necessary for political leaders to be "experts" in economics to lead their counties out of darkness. It is necessary that they realize, in Mig's words, "Economics is politics by other means", and to realize that being accessories to the looting of the people they are supposed to represent is unacceptable.

Economics is the problem, not the solution. The solution is to realize clearly that economics must be subservient to the political needs of the nation rather than to the interests of finance. When we grant TINA we fundamentally corrupt judgement. Judgement is based on emotional responses: this is food -- yum! this is a predator -- flee! We have allowed that judgement to be made by a tiny group of banker predators and the rest of society is, to them, just food. That is why policy is so confounding to the majority. They don't understand that the reference for judgement is not their broad interests.

I cannot complain too much about having allowed the disastrous developments of the last forty years. While I suspected and then believed that the policies being pursued were wrong-headed I did not understand why. That has made it difficult to mount a cogent critique. It is easier now that the system is destroying itself, but still far from easy.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

It is necessary that they realize, in Mig's words, "Economics is politics by other means", and to realize that being accessories to the looting of the people they are supposed to represent is unacceptable.

It would be unseemly to have agents of the state or crown going to individuals and shaking them down for all of their liquid wealth, so they use economics for the same purpose, but better. Better because through economics they can get people to make their assets liquid in anticipation of gain, though that ruse is now wearing thin.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

Yes, but these people who can make a difference are surrounded by so many layers of buffering to prevent reality seeping in that they are effectively sealed off from it.

then having the ability to forensically analyse the trail from advice to destruction and realise they're being lied to; well at that point they'll find themselves re-shuffled or sacked or have an aircraft accident (just kidding folks).

A large part of the problem is that for current leaders to accept that the economic theories they have been faithfully attempting to implement are actually harmful and only serve the very wealthy, they would have to accept that they are accomplices. Most would not like to think that of themselves, so they cling to the old theories, by the lights of which they remain virtuous.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."